Officers are currently trawling through CCTV footage as they try to catch the gang behind ram-raids using at shops in Hatton and Kings Bromley.

Derbyshire police said no arrests have been made so far after a Nisa store, in Hatton, was ram-raided when a cash machine was stolen. It is being linked with a similar raid at the Co-op in Kings Bromley only the day before.

In both of the raids agricultural machines, which had been stolen from surrounding villages, were used. The telescopic handling machines, which have long arms capable of lifting heavy loads, were then abandoned at the scenes.

JCB digger in the side of the Co-op in Kings Bromley

The first raid happened at the Co-op in Lichfield Road, Kings Bromley, on Wednesday, August 2, when a masked gang was unsuccessful in taking the ATM machine after they were disturbed by officers.

The JCB machine, which was stolen from a farm in Netherseal in Derbyshire, was left wedged in the side of the building with a metal box hanging from it and the gang ran off to waiting vehicles.

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The attempt caused extensive damage to the building with two large windows smashed with window frames damaged and debris on the floor. However, the store was open the next day once it was found that the structure was safe.

Police said they received the call at 3.10am and had to then preserve the scene for a forensic examination to take place as they hunted the gang responsible.

Ram-raid on the cash point at the Nisa Store on Station Road, Hatton, using a telescopic handler.

Anyone who saw anything suspicious is asked to call Staffordshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 60 of August 2.

Officers from Derbyshire police were then called out to the Nisa store in Hatton at 2.30am on Thursday, August 3, by residents who saw a vehicle, which had a telescopic arm, dragging a cash machine from the wall.

The thieves put the machine in a trailer being pulled by a 4x4 vehicle before driving off, accompanied by a car.

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Police said that officers were sent to the scene immediately and one thief threw a metal bar at officers before the vehicles drove off. Officers began searching for the gang, alerting neighbouring forces to the theft, but the 4x4 was not found. Staffordshire Police did see the car in Alrewas but it drove off.

Ram-raid on the cash point at the Nisa Store on Station Road, Hatton, using a telescopic handler.

The telescopic handler was left at the scene.

Witnesses or anyone with information or CCTV footage is asked to call Derbyshire police on 101 quoting reference 17000330482 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.